Impact of a bilingual/bicultural care team on HIV-related health outcomes

J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care. 2008 Jul-Aug;19(4):295-301. doi: 10.1016/j.jana.2008.04.004.

Abstract

The purpose of this retrospective study was to examine the impact of a bilingual/bicultural care team on HIV-related health outcomes among Hispanic/Latino adults (N = 43) who received care in an academic HIV specialty clinic. Demographic and health data extracted from medical records from March 2005 to March 2007 were compared over two time periods: 1 year before and 1 year after implementation of the care team. Results indicated that there were more clinic visits per patient and that a higher percentage of individuals had suppressed HIV viral loads to < 50 copies/ml during the year after the team was implemented compared with the previous year. Results from this study suggest that provision of care by health care workers who are bilingual/bicultural, together with the use of culturally and linguistically appropriate patient education materials, may enhance health outcomes among Hispanic adults living with HIV infection.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Ambulatory Care*
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • Cultural Competency*
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / psychology
  • HIV Infections / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Language*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Care Team*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Viral Load